Passive Climbing Protection Device Comprised Of Multiple Components Confined To A Single Stem Which Nest To Create Chocks Of Differing Sizes

ABSTRACT

A passive climbing protection device can be comprised of multiple components that are confined to a single stem which nest to create chocks of differing sizes. The multiple components are sized to enable each smaller component to be nested within the next largest component. Different sized chocks can be formed by simply sliding one or more larger components away from one or more smaller components leaving the smaller components to form a chock of the desired size. Accordingly, the passive climbing protection device provides multiple differently sized chocks on a single stem to enable a large range of placements to be covered with a single device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/719,069 which was filed on Oct. 26, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to passive climbingprotection devices such as climbing chocks, nuts, and stoppers(hereinafter referred to generally as chocks). In particular, thepresent invention is directed to a passive climbing protection devicecomprised of multiple components that are confined to a single stemwhich nest to create chocks of differing sizes.

BACKGROUND

Climbers may employ various types of protection devices to securethemselves to a rock wall. These protection devices are commonlycategorized as either active or passive protection devices. In eithercase, the protection device is typically inserted into a crack in therock wall and secured between opposing surfaces of the crack. Oncesecured, the protection device can be used as an attachment point forsupporting the weight of the climber.

Active protection devices employ a chock comprised of moving mechanicalparts. The relative motion of parts allows for reduced effective widthof the device for insertion into the crack, a self-enlarging effectivewidth at rest within the crack, and reduced effective width for removalfrom the crack. Active protection devices are capable of a continuoussize range. Common examples of active protection devices include the camand the ball nut. Passive protection devices, on the other hand, employa chock comprised of a single mechanical part having a width sufficientto allow the chock to be wedged within a crack.

Both active and passive protection devices are individually confined toa stem. The stem of a protection device may be a sling, cable, wire, orrigid member that extends from the mechanical part(s), shifting theattachment point away from the mechanical part(s). Typically, acarabiner is attached to the end of the stem opposite the wedged-inmechanical part(s) to allow the climber to secure a rope from theprotection device.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate various types of passive climbing chocks 101a-101 c. Each of climbing chocks 101 a-101 c is secured to a stem 102a-102 c respectively. FIG. 1A illustrates an irregular tube-shaped chock101 a having a textile sling 102 a as the stem, FIG. 1B shows atrapezoidal chock 101 b having a metal cable 102 b as the stem, and FIG.1C illustrates a wedge chock 101 c having a wire 102 c as the stem.

Because passive protection devices, such as the chocks shown in FIGS.1A-1C, have a fixed size and shape, a single passive protection devicecan only be used for a limited range of placements. Because of this, aclimber will typically carry various climbing chocks of different shapesand sizes during a climb to ensure that he has an appropriate chock foreach placement.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is generally directed to a passive climbingprotection device comprised of multiple components that are confined toa single stem which nest to create chocks of differing sizes. Themultiple components are sized to enable each smaller component to benested within the next largest component. Different sized chocks can beformed by simply sliding one or more larger components away from one ormore smaller components leaving the smaller components to form a chockof the desired size.

Accordingly, the passive climbing protection device provides multipledifferently sized chocks on a single stem to enable a large range ofplacements to be covered with a single device. The present invention istherefore more compact and easier to use than in prior art approacheswhich require the climber to carry many more devices to encompass thesame range of placements.

In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a passive climbingprotection device that includes a stem and multiple components securedto the stem which nest to form chocks of differing sizes.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a passiveclimbing protection device that includes a stem and multiple componentsattached to the stem. The multiple components include a smallestcomponent and a largest component. The largest component has a cavitywithin which the smallest component can be inserted when the largestcomponent is used to secure the device to a climbing surface.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a passiveclimbing protection device that includes a stem, a first componentsecured to the stem, and a second component secured to the stem. Thesecond component has a cavity into which the first component insertswhen the second component is slid overtop the first component to therebyenable the second component to be used to secure the device to aclimbing surface. The second component is slidable along the stem toexpose the first component to allow the first component to be used tosecure the device to the climbing surface

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. Thefeatures and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out inthe appended claims. These and other features of the present inventionwill become more fully apparent from the following description andappended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention asset forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a moreparticular description of the invention briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not thereforeto be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art irregular tube shaped chock with atextile sling for a stem;

FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art trapezoidal chock with a metal cable fora stem;

FIG. 1C illustrates a prior art wedge chock with a wire for a stem;

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate one embodiment of a passive climbing protectiondevice comprised of multiple nested components that are confined to asingle stem;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a passive climbing protectiondevice comprised of multiple nested components having a hexagonal shapethat are confined to a single stem;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another embodiment of a passive climbingprotection device that includes a component with unenclosed sides; and

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate another embodiment of a passive climbingprotection device that includes a component with a single side and alocking mechanism for locking the single-sided component to a smallercomponent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is generally directed to a passive climbingprotection device comprised of multiple components that are confined toa single stem which nest to create chocks of differing sizes. Themultiple components are sized to enable each smaller component to benested within the next largest component. Different sized chocks can beformed by simply sliding one or more larger components away from one ormore smaller components leaving the smaller components to form a chockof the desired size.

Accordingly, the passive climbing protection device provides multipledifferently sized chocks on a single stem to enable a large range ofplacements to be covered with a single device. The present invention istherefore more compact and easier to use than in prior art approacheswhich require the climber to carry many more devices to encompass thesame range of placements.

In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a passive climbingprotection device that includes a stem and multiple components securedto the stem which nest to form chocks of differing sizes.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a passiveclimbing protection device that includes a stem and multiple componentsattached to the stem. The multiple components include a smallestcomponent and a largest component. The largest component has a cavitywithin which the smallest component can be inserted when the largestcomponent is used to secure the device to a climbing surface.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a passiveclimbing protection device that includes a stem, a first componentsecured to the stem, and a second component secured to the stem. Thesecond component has a cavity into which the first component insertswhen the second component is slid overtop the first component to therebyenable the second component to be used to secure the device to aclimbing surface. The second component is slidable along the stem toexpose the first component to allow the first component to be used tosecure the device to the climbing surface

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate one embodiment of a passive climbing protectiondevice 200 comprised of multiple nested components confined to a singlestem. Device 200 includes three four-sided components 201 a-201 c thatare secured to a stem 202. Although stem 202 is shown as comprising twoside-by-side lengths of material that extend through each component 201a-201 c, stem 202 can equally comprise a single length of material. Aloop 202 a can be formed at an end of stem 202 using a yoke 203. Yoke203 can also serve to limit the movement of components 201 a and 201 balong stem 202. In some embodiments, component 201 c may also beconfigured to slide along stem 202; however, in many cases, it may bedesirable to secure the smallest component at the end of stem 202 tofacilitate removal of larger components from overtop the smallestcomponent.

FIGS. 2C-2E illustrate how device 200 enables multiple chocks ofdiffering sizes to be created on a single stem thereby enabling device200 to be used in a wide range of placements. In FIG. 2C, components 201a and 201 b have been slid along stem 202 so that component 201 c is theonly component positioned at the end of stem 202. In this configuration,component 201 c can be used in a similar manner as prior art chocks areused to secure device 200 within the crack as shown.

FIG. 2D illustrates that only component 201 a has been slid back leavingcomponents 201 b and 201 c positioned at the end of stem 202. In thisposition, the combination of components 201 b and 201 c can be used in asimilar manner as prior art chocks to secure device 200 within thecrack. As shown, the shape and size of component 201 c allows it to becontained within component 201 b while component 201 b is used to securedevice 200 within the crack. In some embodiments, component 201 c can beconfigured to reinforce component 201 b such as by having a size andshape that match (or substantially match) the size and shape of thecavity in component 201 b. In this way, components 201 b and 201 c willeffectively function as a single solid piece.

FIG. 2E illustrates that component 201 a is positioned overtop ofcomponents 201 b and 201 c. As stated above, in some embodiments,component 201 b can have a size and shape that substantially match thesize and shape of the cavity in component 201 a so that component 201 bserves to reinforce component 201 a during use.

Device 200 can therefore provide passive climbing protection over a widerange of placements (i.e. the range of widths between the smallest widthof component 201 c to the largest width of component 201 a). Device 200is also easy to carry and use during climbing. For example, because asingle device can provide coverage for a wide range of placements, theclimber can carry fewer devices. Also, when the climber needs to place aprotection device, the climber can likely accomplish the placement usingthe single device 200 without having to obtain and test many differentdevices until one of the appropriate size is found. Further, because theeffective width of device 200 can be adjusted by simply sliding thecomponents back along stem 202, identifying the proper sized chock touse can be accomplished quickly and simply. This is an importantconsideration because oftentimes the climber only has one free hand withwhich to accomplish the placement.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a passive climbing protectiondevice 300 comprised of multiple nested components 301 a-301 c confinedto a single stem 302. Components 301 a-301 c function in a similarmanner as components 201 a-201 c described above. However, the hexagonalshape of components 201 a-201 c provides a greater number of effectivewidths than with rectangular components. Also, stem 302 is shown ascomprising a single length of material that extends through eachcomponent 301 a-301 c on one end and terminates at the opposite end in aloop 302 a that is secured by yoke 303.

Although devices 200 and 300 are each shown as including threecomponents, a device in accordance with the present invention could alsobe configured with two, four, or more components. Accordingly, thepresent invention encompasses passive protection devices having anynumber of nested components that are confined to a stem. Further, adevice in accordance with the present invention can include componentshaving any polygonal shape.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another embodiment of a passive climbingprotection device 400. Device 400 includes components 401 a, 401 b thatare secured to stem 402. Unlike components 201 a and 201 b shown inFIGS. 2A-2E, component 401 a is not enclosed on two sides. In otherwords, component 401 a is configured to have a width in one axis that isthe same (or at least less than) the width of component 401 b. In thisway, component 401 a only extends the effective width of component 401 bin a single axis.

Although device 400 is shown as including two components, more than twocomponents could also be used in this configuration. In such cases, theadditional components may be configured similar to component 401 a (i.e.not enclosed on two sides) or may be configured similar to components201 a, 201 b (i.e. enclosed on all sides). Similar embodiments may alsoemploy components of different shapes (e.g. hexagonal components) whereone or more of the components are not enclosed on all sides.

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate another embodiment of a passive climbingprotection device 500. Device 500 includes components 501 a and 501 bwith component 501 a being enclosed only on a single side (i.e.component 501 a only has a single side). One advantage of this design isthat the effective width of component 501 b can be increased in smallerincrements since the width of only a single side is increased.

As best shown in FIG. 5C, device 500 can employ a locking mechanism torestrain movement between components 501 a and 501 b. In the depictedembodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a protrusion 505 on theinside surface of component 501 a and a corresponding groove 506 on theoutside surface of component 501 b. However, the locking mechanism canalso comprise any irregularity in the surfaces of components 501 a, 501b that restrains relative movement of the components (e.g. a groove incomponent 501 a and a protrusion in component 501 b). Because component501 a comprises a single side and therefore lacks the ability to squeezeovertop of component 501 b, the locking mechanism can serve to securecomponent 501 a to component 501 b.

Device 500 can also include additional components which may beconfigured similar to any of components 201 a, 401 a, or 501 a. Forexample, a component enclosed on all four sides similar to component 201a can be sized and shaped to fit overtop of component 501 a whencomponent 501 a is placed overtop of component 501 b. Similarly, acomponent enclosed on only two sides similar to component 401 a can besized and shaped to fit overtop of component 501 a when component 501 ais placed overtop of component 501 b. In such cases, the two sides ofthe additional component can be configured to be placed overtop ofeither set of sides of the combination of components 501 a, 501 b (e.g.to be placed vertically or horizontally with respect to device 500 asshown in FIG. 5D). Also, a component having a single side can be usedovertop of component 501 a. In such cases, the component can beconfigured so that its side is positioned opposite the side of component501 a and may also include a protrusion or groove that conforms to agroove or protrusion in component 501 b. Accordingly, the presentinvention encompasses embodiments where one type of the disclosedcomponents is used in combination with another type on the same device.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed:
 1. A passive climbing protection device comprising: astem; and multiple components secured to the stem which nest to formchocks of differing sizes.
 2. The passive climbing protection device ofclaim 1, wherein larger components are configured to slide along thestem to allow smaller components to form a chock of a desired size. 3.The passive climbing protection device of claim 1, wherein thecomponents have a polygonal shape.
 4. The passive climbing protectiondevice of claim 3, wherein the components have one of a four-sided shapeor a six-sided shape.
 5. The passive climbing protection device of claim1, wherein one or more of the larger components has one or more sidesthat are not enclosed.
 6. The passive climbing protection device ofclaim 5, wherein the one or more larger components have two sides thatare not enclosed.
 7. The passive climbing protection device of claim 5,wherein the one or more larger components have one side that isenclosed.
 8. The passive climbing protection device of claim 7, whereinthe one or more larger components having one side that is enclosedinclude one of a groove or a protrusion that corresponds to a protrusionor groove respectively on a smaller component to restrain movement ofthe one or more larger components with respect to the smaller component.9. A passive climbing protection device comprising: a stem; multiplecomponents attached to the stem, the multiple components including asmallest component and a largest component, the largest component havinga cavity within which the smallest component can be inserted when thelargest component is used to secure the device to a climbing surface.10. The passive climbing protection device of claim 9, wherein thelargest component is configured to slide along the stem to expose thesmallest component to allow the smallest component to be used to securethe device to a climbing surface.
 11. The passive climbing protectiondevice of claim 9, wherein the largest component includes one or moresides that are not enclosed.
 12. The passive climbing protection deviceof claim 11, wherein the smallest component includes a groove orprotrusion that corresponds to a protrusion or groove respectivelyformed on the largest component to restrain movement between the largestand smallest component.
 13. The passive climbing protection device ofclaim 9, wherein the largest component comprises a single side having aprotrusion that inserts into a corresponding groove formed in thesmallest component to lock the largest component overtop the smallestcomponent.
 14. The passive climbing protection device of claim 9,further comprising: one or more intermediate components that are eachconfigured to be nested within the largest component.
 15. The passiveclimbing protection device of claim 11, wherein one or more of theintermediate components has one or more sides that are not enclosed. 16.A passive climbing protection device comprising: a stem; a firstcomponent secured to the stem; a second component secured to the stem,the second component having a cavity into which the first componentinserts when the second component is slid overtop the first component tothereby enable the second component to be used to secure the device to aclimbing surface, the second component being slidable along the stem toexpose the first component to allow the first component to be used tosecure the device to the climbing surface.
 17. The passive climbingprotection device of claim 16, wherein the second component includes oneor more sides that are not enclosed.
 18. The passive climbing protectiondevice of claim 16, further comprising: a third component secured to thestem, the third component having a cavity into which the secondcomponent inserts when the third component is slid overtop the secondcomponent to thereby enable the third component to be used to secure thedevice to the climbing surface, the third component being slidable alongthe stem to expose the second component.
 19. The passive climbingprotection device of claim 18, further comprising: one or moreadditional components, each additional component having a cavity intowhich another of the components inserts when the additional component isslid overtop the other component to thereby enable the additionalcomponent to be used to secure the device to the climbing surface. 20.The passive climbing protection device of claim 16, wherein the firstand second components have one of four sides or six sides.